To ask the Minister for Women and Equality which organisations have received funding from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) where a Commissioner or employee of the EHRC (a) is a member of and (b) has a financial or other interest in the organisation concerned. (309946)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) does not collect information pertaining to the membership or other interests of its staff.

The Commission's grant assessment framework requires all staff involved in the assessment process to declare their interests and to abstain from any discussions, debate or assessment related to applications where a conflict of interest might arise.

Of the 61 organisations to be funded in 2009-10, staff interests were declared in relation to the following five organisations:

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation

Lincolnshire YMCA

Living Options Devon

Families Need Fathers

The Runnymede Trust

However none of the staff involved in the assessment process had a financial interest in any organisation funded by the Commission.

The Commission does collect information pertaining to the membership or other interests of its Board of Commissioners.

One member of the Board of Commissioners had an interest in a funded organisation in 2009-10 (as chief executive of Stonewall). This interest was declared and the Commissioner was not involved in the grant assessment panel, the Grants Committee, or any other board level decisions on grant funding.

Eight new Commissioners' appointments took effect on 4 December 2009 and the register of interests pertaining to these individuals is being compiled. However, these Commissioners played no role in the round of grant-making referred to.